For all their pomp and circumstance, even the most popular tourist attractions in the world can’t put a candle to the raw people-pulling capabilities of Disney World in Orlando FL. It may not be as beautiful or majestic as its competitors, but there’s no denying the fact that Disney draws more tourists in than any other single tourist attraction in the world.
Every year, millions of bright eyed, bushy tailed tourists travel here from around the world to experience the raw spectacle and entertainment of this unique attraction. They spend thousands upon thousands of dollars to stay in its hotels, eat at its restaurants and visit its parks, often only after saving for years on end.
There’s little question that Disney is about as close as most of us can hope to get to paradise on earth. With luxurious hotels, exciting amusement parks, atmospheric restaurants and thematically accurate recreations of places from around the world, spending a week here is likely to be one of the highlights of your life, and may make you want to purchase a home here.
Sounds great, right? There’s just one problem: money. All of these scintillating attractions come at a cost, and a high one at that. With an average weekly cost of $8,000 for a four person family, Disney is one of the most expensive ways to spend your time, assuming you visit it the way they want you to.
Free Disney
As it turns out, there’s another way to experience the atmosphere and attractions of Disney without even going to the parks! While the main attractions will cost you an arm and a leg to enter (there’s no getting around that fee, unfortunately), you can still have the Disney experience without paying a single dime!
From sweeping monorail vistas to wildly entertaining acrobatic acts and charming architectural playgrounds, there’s a great deal to see that can be seen absolutely free! Instead of waiting in line for hours under the hot Florida sun, you can simply take a leisurely stroll through the periphery of the parks and enjoy the atmosphere. How does this work, you ask? We’ll tell you!
How it works
Disney works on a very simple concept. If you provide a group of people with a range of attractions at no cost, you can get them to purchase access to a more extensive set of attractions with substantially greater ease. Sure, there will be those who don’t purchase anything that can’t be gotten for free, but these individuals will be in the minority.
If you’ve got good impulse control, you can easily be a part of that minority, enjoying all the things that Disney offers for free, without feeding into their corporate schemes. There’s so much to see for free that you’ll wonder why anyone pays to enter the parks! So what is there to see, and how can you see it for free?
A delightful periphery
Surrounding the parks at Disney World are a selection of restaurants, shops, hotels and other attractions in a variety of thematically distinct visitor areas. These areas are connected by a monorail system, which ferries visitors from area to area with speed, style and comfort. The best part? There’s no entry fee!
The bulk of Disney’s revenue from these open-access areas comes from themed restaurants, arcades, merchandise shops and other businesses that operate separately from those inside the parks. In order to draw people in, these businesses are surrounded by a plethora of enchanting attractions that you can enjoy regardless of whether or not you decide to spend money while you’re there. Here are some of those attractions!
Enjoy a show on the Boardwalk
The Boardwalk is one of the most popular areas in the periphery of the Disney World theme parks. With an atmosphere intended to evoke images of 1920s Atlantic City, you’ll find it a delightful place to spend an afternoon or two. There are charming ice cream shops, sumptuous restaurants, luxurious hotels and much more here, but those will all cost you a pretty penny to enjoy.
If you’re looking to get the Disney experience on a budget, one of the most enjoyable ways to spend your time here is to watch one of the many acts performed on the boardwalk. These delightful spectacles range from acrobatic feats to sword swallowers and magicians. It’s enough to put a smile on just about anyone’s face!
Families with kids will also appreciate the opportunity the many performances directed at young to teenage children. Your young ones will be delighted by balloon animal artists who will happily make just about anything your child asks for. Magicians will make things disappear and reappear at will, perplexing your kids to know end. And let’s not forget about the costumed characters that brighten up the day of everyone they come across!
Relax with live music
Once you’ve had your fill of the Boardwalk, you can walk or take the monorail to one of the hotels that line the periphery of the Disney World complex. While they’re primary purpose is to serve as a place for park guests to stay, they also serve a number of secondary purposes with their restaurants, shops and other attractions.
Of all these attractions, perhaps the most enjoyable are the live music acts. Featuring highly skilled and experienced musicians, there’s nothing quite so captivating as watching a master ply their craft on a lovingly crafted instrument. Playing Steinway pianos and Stradivarius violins, there are few places where you can watch such an incredible performance for free!
These musicians play a wide variety of genres and styles, from ragtime piano to jazz and classical, ensuring that there’s enough variety to keep everyone happy. You don’t need large amounts of money to enjoy these acts; just grab a chair, sit down and enjoy one of any number of incredible sets!
Watch the fireworks
While there is a lot to see and do in the free areas of Disney, nothing quite rivals the pure wonder of the spectacular fireworks display that plays out above Cinderella’s castle each night. With hundreds of thousands of dollars in pyrotechnics being detonated in each show, it’s a spectacle you’re unlikely to see the likes of ever again!
An hour or so after the sun sets, the lights of other attractions near Cinderella’s castle will dim. The instantly recognisable Disney cinematic theme will start to play, and then a flash of light will appear in the sky, followed by another and another. Your eyes will light up and you’ll learn exactly why Disney is such a universally loved attraction.
There are a number of places where you can watch the fireworks. Disney’s many hotels are a great place to watch the display, while the beaches, benches and trails on the periphery are also excellent choices. Wherever you choose to watch from, we think there’s a pretty good chance you’ll have an incredible time!
Conclusion
While most people would reach the conclusion that Disney is a delight reserved for the middle and upper classes, we hope we’ve given you a glimmer of hope that you too can visit this spectacular place. We couldn’t talk about all the different things there are to do here, but that’s the beauty of it; you can discover them on your own!
Once you visit this beautiful city, there’s a good chance you’ll feel compelled to make it your home. If this happens to you, we know just who you can call: real estate agents in Orlando FL! These skilled, experienced professionals will happily assist you in finding a home that suits your needs and your budget. We think you’ll enjoy Orlando!
